Chapter 600 Work Hard
The dark clouds in Nia's heart vanished completely.
She really had met a great person. She hadn't held out much hope, but Walter had actually transferred the money to her. She couldn't believe her luck, meeting someone so selfless who wasn't afraid she'd run off.
Back when she was struggling alone in a different city, she couldn't afford rent and didn't dare call her family for help. When she finally did, her parents scolded her, saying they'd done their duty by raising her to adulthood and couldn't do more.
She had felt cold and desperate. To save money, she worked two jobs a day and lived off a big bag of instant noodles for half a month, not eating a single bite of meat for a whole month.
Walter was just a stranger to her, not a friend, and they weren't related. Yet, in her time of need, he was more helpful than her own parents.
Filled with gratitude, she typed a message on WhatsApp to express her thanks: [Walter, thank you so much. I will pay you back. I promise to work hard.]
For the first time, she realized her vocabulary was too limited to express her feelings properly.
Maybe he was too busy to respond, or maybe the amount of money was insignificant to him. He didn't reply to her message.
Nia was sensible enough not to bother him further. She believed that expressing too much gratitude might backfire, making him think she was trying to get his attention.
Right now, she was only interested in making money.
She didn't want to mess up a good relationship.
Besides, she wasn't naive enough to think that Walter, even though he was just an assistant, would be interested in someone as ordinary as her. He was second only to Daniel in The Taylor Group, and she knew she wasn't special enough to catch his eye.
Offering herself was not an option, so she could only repay him by working hard and making money.
On the weekend, she took the money and went to the plastic surgery clinic.
The director greeted her warmly, his face full of smiles. Even the director had had work done, and he looked quite pleasing to the eye.
She paid the fees and completed the hospital admission procedures. The director told her that she could have the bandages removed and be discharged in about a month.
But how was she going to ask Walter for a month's leave?
In the end, she lied and nervously told him on WhatsApp: [Walter, there's an issue at home, and I need to take a month off. But I won't let it affect my work; I can work online.]
Walter: [You're not planning to run off with the money, are you?]
Seeing his misunderstanding, Nia hurriedly typed a long message to explain: [Walter, I really have an issue at home. I'm so grateful for the money you lent me; I wouldn't dream of running away. If you're worried, I can leave my passport with you. I'll take an unlicensed cab. Besides, I have nothing, so why wouldn't I cling to you instead of running away? I'm not stupid.]
She sent a long, rambling message, assuring him over and over.
He didn't reply.
Her leave request was still up in the air, and she was anxious.
She didn't know if it would be approved.
The director came to tell her that the surgery could be done the next day.
She was both excited and worried.
Excited because she was one step closer to her dream of becoming an internet celebrity. Worried because she didn't know what to do about the leave.
After dinner, he still hadn't replied.
Feeling anxious, she nervously dialed his number.
She spoke very humbly, "Hey, Walter, have you had dinner?"
"Just finished. What's up?" he said in a calm tone, revealing nothing about his mood.
She asked, "Are you busy?"
"Do you need something?" He was direct.
Nia repeated her request, assuring him again and again that she would complete her work online and not delay any progress.
She sweetened her words, saying only the nicest things.
He didn't make it difficult for her, "As long as it doesn't affect your work, do as you please."
As soon as she hung up, Walter lit a cigarette in the private room of the restaurant.
Raymond, also smoking, looked at him, "That female subordinate from last time?"
"You should have been a journalist," Walter replied.
"How does she look?" Raymond asked with a smile.
Walter thought for a moment and smiled, "Not bad."
"Are you pursuing her?"
"No."
"Is she pursuing you?"
"No."
"Just a simple boss-employee relationship?"
"What else?" Walter took the cigarette from his lips and glanced at Raymond, "I'm fine as I am now."
Raymond squinted, "What are you planning?"
"Ever played a nurturing game?"
"Got it."
"How's it going with Daniel?" Walter asked.
Raymond exhaled smoke, "Not great. He hurt his wife so badly; do you think she'll be nice to him?"
"Do you believe that by the time I have kids, he still won't have won her back?"
"Who knows?"
"Let's bet. A ten-million-dollar car?" Walter looked at him.
Raymond, who loved drama, agreed, "Sure, if you win over your female subordinate before Daniel comes back, that car will be a gift for your girlfriend. Wedding gift not included."
Walter smiled.
"It's not that I don't believe in you two, but your family isn't easy to get into. If you just play around, your family might not care. But if you're serious, that girl might suffer. I'm lucky; as an orphan with no parents, I can marry whoever I want, and no one can object," Raymond sighed.
Walter teased him, "You married up, and you still have the nerve to say that? Without her, you wouldn't even qualify to have dinner with me."
"That's true."
"How are things with your wife?" Walter put out his cigarette in the ashtray, asking out of courtesy.
Raymond beamed, "Margaret wants a second child, so we're working on it."
"Wish you the best."
"And I wish you all the best," Raymond replied.
Raymond's phone rang. It was Margaret, with Felicity crying in the background, "Honey, come home as soon as you're done. Felicity has been crying since you left and won't stop."
"I'll be right back." Raymond hung up, grabbed his coat from the chair, and put it on, "I have to go. My wife and kid are waiting at home."
Walter, finding no point in staying alone, grabbed his coat and the pack of cigarettes from the table, following him out, "Marriage really takes away all your freedom."
"You don't understand. Marriage gives me a sense of belonging, a lovely child, and a virtuous wife. This bond is both a weakness and armor. When you get married and find someone you love, you'll understand how I feel," Raymond said with the wisdom of experience, "I used to fear nothing and had a bad temper. But now, I consider my family's feelings before I act."
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